Roy, Sheena, D, K, A, C and L

Roy, Sheena, D, K, A, C and L

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Snow Days!

We've had a huge storm blow through this weekend.  The snow started Thursday mid-morning.  By the time I went to pick D and the carpool kids up (2 hours early because of the snow) it took me a full hour to drive the carpool.  The snow came fast a slick.  Twice I had to back down the hill I was on to try again because I couldn't go any further.  K's bus was on snow route so our neighbor agreed to pick her up at the snow route drop off location along with the rest of the kids in our little circle.   It was a long and convoluted series of events later that finally culminated with our neighbor driving to the school and getting all the kids in our circle off the bus and bringing them home about 2 p.m.  Remember, school got out at 12:50! Roy came home early from work and we spent the afternoon playing in the snow and being together.
School was cancelled on Friday.  Snow fell most of the day.  We stayed home (except for a foray out in the morning so I could go to the gym and Roy could buy cereal) and played games, watched movies and tried to keep the snow outside.
Saturday brought more snow.  We loaded up and went to a local school that has some great hill for sledding down.  Everyone tried to sled except for me.  Somehow it was never my turn.  I had tripled up my socks before we left.  That turned out to be a very good thing because A didn't actually wear any socks.  Not only that but she was wearing fabric boots that were worn clear through so I could see her naked toes.  It felt a little pioneerish for her to be walking out in the snow with holes in her shoes and no socks.  K got cold first so I took her back to the van with baby C (who got a few runs in on the sled with daddy) to wait for everyone else to come.  It really was fun.  Just wish the kids had snow pants and such but with big snow only happening once every 5 years or so it just isn't practical.
Roy's had several opportunities for "hero work" as he's jokingly called it this weekend.  He's helped at least 3 people push their cars up hills or dug them out after they've slid down hill.  We also had a bit of excitement in our little circle when our neighbor nearly sliced her finger off and had to be taken to the ER.  Since her husband wasn't home yet, Roy hero-ed up and took her.  It's given us lots of fun jokes about being a hero -- it's hard work ya know.
On Sunday church was cancelled.  Not only was there snow at this point but also some freezing rain creating a crust of ice on top of the snow.  Most worship services were cancelled up here.  We had church at home.  It was pretty fun.  I gave a lesson for church, then D gave a lesson for "primary" and A picked some songs for us to sing for "singing time".  She was "Sister Simmons" (our primary chorister).
Monday saw school cancelled again.  The roads are just too slick for a bunch of buses to be driving around all day.  I have to admit, I'm pretty ready for the kids to be back in school.  They are too.  The are still playing well together but tempers are a bit more touchy.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Baby C: 11 Months (and 10 month make up)

C's made some big strides in the last two months -- mobility wise.  He's way too mobile if you ask me.

  • He's mastered the ability to climb up the stairs.  But not so much the coming down... 
  • He has been a champion scooter for some time now but finally graduated to full on crawling a couple of weeks ago.  
  • He pulls to stand at anything/anyone stationary.  He especially likes windows.
  • First Christmas
  • First swing ride - loves it!
  • First bike ride
  • His favorite word/sound is "uh-oh".
  • He waves "bye-bye" - but only when he wants to.
  • His favorite food is Chobani Greek Yogurt - any flavor.
  • People love him.
    • I've been going to the gym regularly for four weeks now.  The girls who work there just love him.  One of the girls, Lacy, calls him "her baby".  She doesn't even know he can crawl because he is held the entire time he is there!  
    • As soon as I walk into Sacrament meeting each week, Sister Stewart takes him before I can even sit down.  She calls it the highlight of her week to get her mommy/baby "fix".
  • He's up to four adorable teeth peeking out of his gummy little smile.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Random Stuff that might wax a bit political. I'll try to hold myself back.

I took the kids to McDonald's for dinner the other night.  It was McTeacher night where the teachers serve and part of the proceeds go to the PTA.  Feels a little funny after my previous post about the Cheese mouse.  But Roy was at a meeting and I was tired of cooking.  Win-win.

One of our local second hand store is now "Excepting Donations".  O.o

I passed a billboard yesterday that took several seconds to process.  "Your embarrassing problem?  Our Tuesday morning.  Planned Parenthood"  What did that....................Did........Did they jus....................I don't even................Just....wow.....wow....  And then I just felt almost overwhelmingly tired with it all.  How a baby could morph from miraculous to embarrassing problem to Tuesday morning appointment at Planned Parenthood is so fundamentally disturbing and vile I don't even know what more to say.

If anyone wants to clean my stove for me I'm currently accepting applications.  And by accepting applications I mean YES.

We watched Despicable Me 2 a few weeks ago.  Now I only have to hear this:
"Gru's not here..... Yes, he just told me..... I mean, no he didn't...... He's putting on lipstick...... He's swatting at flies....... He's chopping his head off....... He's..pooping?"
once or twice a day instead of a nearly constant buzz.

I started a new diet lifestyle that involves exercise, calorie counting, treat regulation and such.  I've lost 5 lbs and I'm hungry.  But I'm not falling off the wagon here people.  I'm almost done with my 4th week and I'm doing this.

Isn't this the cutest window decoration you've ever seen?


K has finally hit the point in reading where she's starting to read things around her -- like box labels and such.  I'm hoping it will help transform reading from homework to life skill.  Also, her handwriting is officially nicer and more legible than D's.

I'm trying to relish this last year with A before she starts kindergarten (for 6 HOURS. A. DAY.  Uh-oh, I feel another rant...*deep breaths*).  Sometimes it works and sometimes I'm like "Dude.  Isn't there someone else you can talk to."  Oh.  No there isn't.  She's funny and full of things to say.  I know I'm going to miss it.

Which reminds me, we've made a rule about growing up but each of the children insist on breaking it every. single. day. Inconceivable.

Which reminds me, we bought The Princess Bride on DVD for $5.  Time to pass it on to the next generation.

In the spirit of growing up, we're working on breaking with the thumb.  A's been a thumb-sucker all her life.  She's been sucking less but we now have a chart on the wall and incentives in place.  Already she's been to Burgerville for the "biggest ice cream cone in the UNIVERSE!"  Currently she's working on filling her chart to earn a talking My Little Pony Unicorn.  Also, I had to take away THE blanket.  It helps a lot.

I have 4 loads of laundry washed, 3 loads of laundry dried and 0 loads of laundry folded.  I'm thinking of getting a sign for my laundry room that says, "Sort - Today / Wash - Later / Fold - Eventually / Iron - Hahahaha"  Which if you ask Roy is pretty much the way it goes around here.

I have a new blog I like to check (there's really only 4 I check regularly these days).  http://www.themomentswestand.blogspot.com/  Warning, it is emotional.  She's dealt with some pretty hard things but she's so inspirational and honest.

Well, off to do some paper weaving with a child who insists on growing up.  Then to fold a little laundry.  But not too much.  Wouldn't want to raise the bar too high in that area.